The Upper House on Sunday started renovation work for two newly elected lawmakers with severe physical disabilities.

As Yasuhiko Funago, 61, who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,and Eiko Kimura, 54, who has cerebral palsy, use bigger-than-normal wheelchairs, the Upper House removed three seats from its chamber for plenary sessions to create space for them to attend. The seats were at the back of the chamber near a doorway.

Funago and Kimura won their races in the July 21 election as candidates for Reiwa Shinsengumi, a political group founded in April by actor-turned-politician Taro Yamamoto to “challenge the establishment and status quo.”

Regulations will be substantially eased for them. Both will be allowed to vote via caregivers during plenary sessions. Funago will be allowed to use a computer for communication and medical purposes. The usual dress code will not be strictly applied.

The chamber’s steering committee agreed Thursday to improve the barrier-free accessibility of its facilities for the two. Shinsuke Suematsu, chairman of the committee, vowed to help Funago and Kimura fully play their roles as members of the upper chamber.

Part of the renovations will be completed by Thursday before an extraordinary Diet session begins. Further renovation work, including setting up special voting buttons, will be carried out by the start of another extraordinary Diet session to be held in the fall.

Other measures to ensure barrier-free access to the Upper House include the installation of a ramp at the central entrance, which is used only when the Emperor and state guests visit the chamber and when newly elected lawmakers attend the first session after an election.

In addition, the lawmakers will be preferentially allocated rooms in the public dormitory for Upper House lawmakers and can be accompanied by caregivers overnight.

Source: ANNnewsCH